AB&I #14

[Katrina Gomez]

Gomez and I, I'm really going to have to think of a "team" name for us..team Gomez perhaps, ran across a #14 skillet made by AB&I.  It was milled on both the inside and bottom of the skillet.  It was very nice!!  Of course we didn't think to take a picture....

Well we didn't buy it because the seller and ourselves didn't know that what was a reasonable price.  Any suggestions?

[C. Perry Rapier]

Gomez and I, I'm really going to have to think of a "team" name for us..team Gomez perhaps, ran across a #14 skillet made by AB&I.  It was milled on both the inside and bottom of the skillet.  It was very nice!!  Of course we didn't think to take a picture....

Well we didn't buy it because the seller and ourselves didn't know that what was a reasonable price.  Any suggestions?

Wow Katrina, that sounds very interesting, but I don't have a clue. "Team Gomez" sounds good.  ;)

[Chris Stairs]

Katrina,
   I've owned a few AB&I skillets, and had one that size with the ship on the bottom. They don't seem to draw much interest from collectors. They tend to be a bit heavy and clunky. The bottom milled ones are harder to find.
  I would think $50-75.
 Being in California where they were made, you will see them more often than us folk on the east coast.

[Katrina Gomez]

Team Gomez thanks you!   :)

Chris for the size it definitely wasn't as light as lets say an "ERIE" but was probably comparable to a #12 Griswold skillet.  

Thanks to you we have an idea what to offer the seller.   8-)

[Chris Stairs]

Katrina,
 There is one on Ebay right now for $75 "Buy it now". Nobody has snapped it up, so I sure wouldn't pay any more than that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230385824897&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Rick Gilley]

I had never heard of AB&I until I ran across a chicken cooker at an auction. They about gave it to me, and then I found a secod one at the "cast iron junkyard". One of these cookers with the lid weighs 17 pounds but it ought to really hold the heat. The lighter colored one, darken up when I seasoned it a second time.

[Katrina Gomez]

17 POUNDS!!!  WOW.   :D

[Sam Roberts]

He re-listed the skillet and I picked it up for $31.50... ;)

[stepper]

Sam, just curious. Why were you interested in that skillet?  Aren't you afraid it has a wobble since the seller didn't specifically say it sits flat?

[Sam Roberts]

I collect more Lodge CI than I do Griswold or Wagner. In addition to that when I see a big skillet, a CO, or a Sportsman's Grill Cooker, I have trouble passing them up. I am slowly emassing a collection of the big pieces. This AB&I skillet will probably never be used by myself for the only reason I would have problems justifying it's use for a one person dinner. I may be mistaken and it may be warped, but by the appearance of the bottom I don't feel it is. If it was warped or was a spinner the carbon on the bottom would not be as even as it is.

[stepper]

Thanks, Sam, that's interesting. Uneven color on the bottom to indicate warpage -- that's a good observation. I have a Wagner #8 DO that's a spinner, but really, it cooks just fine on my smoothtop stove.

I hear you about those poor, unloved big pieces calling to you!  I just bought a second unmarked Wagner #12, the kind that says 14 INCH SKILLET on the bottom that collectors turn their noses up at.  I love them.  Not light & finely cast pieces, but they sure caramelize a beautiful batch of onions. And the prices fit my budget. This one had "Save me!" written all over it.


So you like those Sportsman's Grill Cookers too?  I bought one for my husband, which was a big no-no as grilling is his turf -- and to his surprise, he loves it!

Anyway, glad you got the AB&I skillet for a reduced price :)

[Sam Roberts]

"Uneven color on the bottom to indicate warpage"

That's not exactly what I meant. Like your spinner, there is certain parts of your pan that touches the counter top or stove and certain parts that don't. The high, or low spots as it might be, will be worn more, thus indicating an uneven bottom.